Basketball is the Gospel of Christ

Robert Bernard
Oct 8
2 min read

At Be Like David Basketball, we believe basketball is more than a sport—it’s a mirror of the gospel of Christ. Both basketball and life operate by laws, and the way we respond to those laws determines whether we prosper or perish.

On the surface, basketball is a game of physics. Angles, trajectories, force, and timing govern every shot, pass, and movement. But to us, basketball is also metaphysical—a spiritual discipline that demands players submit their own will to the laws of physics that govern objects in space and time.

This is not unlike the message of the Bible. Scripture reminds us that life itself is bound by divine law. To ignore or transgress those laws leads to struggle, woe, and ultimately destruction. But to study, obey, and apply those laws is to inherit life, growth, and mastery.

Skill and Faith on the Court

At Be Like David, we define skill as knowledge of the laws of the game. But skill alone is not enough. Just as the Bible declares that faith without works is dead, basketball teaches us that skill without faith is dead.

Faith, in this context, is the doing. It’s the act of submitting to the law. A player might understand the proper mechanics of a jump shot, but unless they faithfully apply it in practice and in games, that knowledge is useless.

"Mastery, both in life and basketball, comes from surrendering one’s will to the law—and living it out."

The Three Types

Through this lens, we’ve identified three distinct groups on the basketball court:

Players – They know the law but struggle or fail to submit to it. Their inconsistency leads to stagnation and eventual decline.
Hoopers – They lean on raw talent and “their own understanding,” ignorant of the deeper laws of the game. They shine briefly but ultimately fade, because their foundation is shaky.
Students – They study the law, submit to it, and faithfully apply it. Students grow, prosper, and inherit mastery of the game.

And just as the Word says, the lukewarm are spit out. So it is in basketball: the game has no use for those who refuse to commit to the law, either in ignorance or rebellion.

The Christ of the Court

"And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Gal 5:24

Basketball and life are metaphysical in this way: both demand submission to laws greater than ourselves. And both point toward the same truth—perfection comes through obedience.

On the court, the Christ is the one who is perfect in the law—the complete student of the game, who embodies both skill and faith in every action.

The gospel tells us that only by submitting our will to the laws of God can we inherit the kingdom of heaven. In the same way, only by submitting to the laws of basketball can we inherit true mastery of the game.